Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 84295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84295 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 337(@250wpm)___ 281(@300wpm)
“Forget it. Forget I said anything. We’ve had such a good day and tomorrow’s Christmas. And now, it’s time for presents.” She gestures to the stack of presents between us.
Chapter 6
Cassie
I need to get us back on solid ground. Mission Merry Christmas back in full effect. I pick up one of the boxes and set it on the coffee table and then take the rest to put under the tree. “It’s always been a tradition that we open one present on Christmas Eve. So here you go.”
He holds his hands up, waving me off. “I’m not opening that.”
My hand falls to my lap with the small gift. “Why not?”
“I can’t open a gift.” He stops and shakes his head, his eyes wide in disbelief. He’s waving it off like it’s crazy that I got him something.
“Why not?” I ask him, confused.
He gets up and starts pacing the living room. “I’m not going to open a gift when I didn’t get you anything.”
I laugh. “Is that all? My sister sent me a gift to open because she knew I was surprising you. It’s okay, Gavin.”
He still looks uncomfortable with it, but I’m not stopping with this. He’s going to open a gift for Christmas.
“I’ll be right back,” I tell him and go and grab one of the presents that my sister sent.
“See?” I tell him, holding it up. “We’ll both open one.”
I sit back down on the couch and pat the spot next to me. “C’mon, take a seat.”
I’m so excited about this that I can’t stand it. He mentioned this to me one time a long time ago, and I hope he loves what I got him.
“I just don’t feel right about this, Cassie. You’ve already done so much. I don’t want you buying me gifts too.”
I roll my eyes. “Are you for real right now? You don’t know how excited I am to give this to you. Please, I think you’ll love it.”
I force the package into his hands, and he holds it like it’s a ticking time bomb.
Gavin
I look between the wrapped present and back to Cassie. Is she for real? I can’t believe she got me something. “Cassie…” I start, but emotion thickens in my throat, and I stop.
Without even having to say anything, she gets it. She understands what I’m feeling right now. She knows some of my past. No family, no holidays, no birthdays, and of course no presents. But I don’t think she realizes what this means to me right now.
Her hand reaches out and covers mine. “It’s okay, really. If you don’t want to open it, we can just stick it under the tree.”
There’s sadness on her face as she says it, and my heart skips a beat. The smile that’s been on her face since she’s got here is gone and in its place is gloom. I did that to her. Fuck, Gavin. Why did you have to ruin it?
“If you’re sure that’s what you want, I’ll open it. But I’m getting you something.”
Her face lights up again, and I know I’ve made the right decision. “You don’t have to get me a thing. My favorite part of Christmas is giving to others. Really, seeing you open this is going to be gift enough,” she says, pointing to the present I still have gripped in my hands.
I look down at it and carefully start to pull at the bow on top. I don’t want to rip anything, so I go slowly.
Cassie smirks but doesn’t say a word. She’s sitting next to me acting as if she’s patient, but her leg is bouncing, telling me just how excited she is about it. I swear she’s about to reach over and rip the paper open.
When I finally get the box uncovered and lift the lid, I gaze down into the box in shock. “What…? How did you?” I ask her as I take it out of the box.
In my hand is an original PEZ dispenser with the blue Batman on it. I grip it in my hand and then have to force myself to let up a little. I can’t believe she remembered this. I told her when I was younger, I was given a blue Batman PEZ dispenser from one of my caseworkers. It wasn’t new or anything, something the case worker had when she transported kids. She gave it to me when she dropped me off at the new home I was going to. The home where I met my foster brother, Baker.
Anyway, it was taken from me at the new home, and I briefly mentioned that in one of my letters.
“Cassie…” I start, not knowing what to say.
She waves her hand in between us. “It’s no big deal. Open it up. See if the candy is as good as you remember it.”